Videoconference and global dialogue on migration of health workers

Date: 31 March-21 April 2008 Place: Global (online discussion forum)

On 31 March 2008, people from across the world will join in a videoconference discussion to launch a three-week-long interactive online forum on the critical issue of health workforce migration. About 30 representatives from governments, civil society, international community, professional associations and academia will participate in the launch event. Former President of Ireland and co-Chair of the Health Worker Migration Initiative, Honorable Mary Robinson, will deliver the keynote speech.

The online discussion forum will provide an opportunity for interested parties to exchange and discuss experiences, success stories, best practices and challenges. This global dialogue will inform debates at the World Health Assembly and contribute to the development of a global code of practice on the international recruitment of health personnel.

The three-week online discussion will follow this schedule:

Week 1 (31 March-7 April): What are the current realities and dynamics contributing to health worker migration globally?

Week 3 (15 April-21 April): What should be the key principles and elements needed for a global code of practice for health worker migration?

The discussion forum, jointly organized by WHO, the Global Health Workforce Alliance and Realizing Rights, comes in response to the World Health Assembly Resolutions (WHA57.19, WHA58.17) regarding international recruitment of health personnel. It follows the recent adoption of the Kampala Declaration on Human Resources for Health, which called for acceleration of negotiations for a global code of practice for international recruitment of health personnel.